41 Sleeps 'til Christmas

Hi!!

In the 2 hours that I have been awake this morning I have vomited 3 times. Which is fun. 

Ugh. Seriously, when is someone going to throw me a fricken bone?

Meanwhile, at the other end of the house....

Someone would rather party hard in her cot than have her morning nap. Ironically, every other morning this week she has gone straight down for 3 hours, the only morning I actually need her to sleep she won't. 

I can actually hear her banging her head against the wall right now. I may join her shortly... 

On the 'glass is half full' flipside, today is shaping up to be yet another beauty. Forecasted for 33 degrees so if the child won't sleep now at least I know she'll crash & burn later this arv, which means sunbathing & finishing up my book for me! 

I cannot believe how sneaky Xmas has been this year- that sly dog (cat) just came out of nowhere! Suddenly, everywhere I go all is I see is fake pine and tinsel. It is glorious! I really, really love Christmas. It is definitely the best holiday of the year (even trumping Easter). I can't wait to start putting on the Christmas carols and watching home alone & love actually. Ive already bought Blake a giant reindeer that she can't stop snuggling;

Although this year will be a lot different to every other Christmas I've had- it'll be my first year without my family... Which is just strange. Luckily for them they'll all be in Europe so I daresay they won't even remember I exist anyway, but I will be missing them.. I guess it's all part of growing up, and now we have our own little family it's time to start making our own traditions which is a really cool aspect of it all. Seriously cannot wait until the kids are a bit older & Oli dresses up as Santa Claus, ohhhh I can just see the beard pulling now. So it is a fresh new start on Xmas in our new city with our new family, and it makes me deliriously happy to think about the years of christmas's we will all share together as a family. Until they reach their "tweens" that is & all they want for Christmas is an iPad 22 and a hover board (oh god).

 "Muuuuummmmmm turn off those songs they're SO annoying, and Home Alone is for baaaaaabies"- I can't wait!!

It is a classic.

**She has finally caved & fallen asleep-woohoo!**

When she wakes up we'll be off to grab some groceries, then I might sneak in some yoga & reading and then I'm going to attempt my first ever lasagne. This dish really intimidates me- I've never had the guts to try it so I'll be sure to let you know how I get on. 

Hope you're all having a good week!

Thought of the day "my Christmas wishlist is empty, I've got everything I want- that is so corny... I'm sure I can think of something to put on there"

P.s is anyone else missing Big Brother for one reason & one reason alone?

Self explanatory...

Ciao!

Gemma 

The Big C

As most women are aware (I hope), October was Breast Cancer Awareness month. Time to raise those arms to the roof & give those boobies a good old fashioned feel up, or even better- get into the docs & get them squished & scanned. And it was also a month to donate to a very worthy cause, by the end of the month I had personally collected a fair few random pink items incl one snazzy pale pink kitchen knife which has turned out to be my new fav, worth every cent. 

This topic is a sensitive one for me as my mother has been fighting a horrible battle with the big C since her diagnosis with Breast Cancer in 2010. It took a long time for the news to sink in, and I think my family and I were in a state of shock (or denial) for the first few months.. Watching Mum go through chemotherapy & radiotherapy was utterly draining - physically, emotionally & mentally. Obviously it was most difficult for her, being transfused with so many poisons and watching the effects these ludicrously strong drugs had on her was mortifying and scarring, yet they kept her alive. Unfortunately for my Mum & for us, she was one of the unlucky ones. At the end of 2011 we were told the devastating and life changing news that the cancer had spread to her spine, and was therefore untreatable. I still can't fathom that information. How could my mother, someone who hasn't had one puff on a cigarette in her life, be dying of cancer? 

(My beautiful Mother on her visit to us in Perth this year, smiling through the storm) 

Life can be very very cruel. 

Ever since that diagnosis, my Mums cancer has shown restraint and has now lain dormant for nearly 2 years. Which is something I guess...She does suffer from a lot of pain caused by the tumours in her back & life is never going to be easy for any of us, but at least she is still here.. She could be here for a long time too if the cancer decides to back off & play it cool for a few decades. We all live in a constant state of  fear & hope. Two very contradicting emotions that come and go in huge waves on different occasions and different days. 

You'd like to think I'm one of the unlucky few who experience a situation as crap as this, but shockingly, I have a few friends & relatives who are all in the same situation as we are. Waiting, watching, hoping. It seems as though Cancer is touching every family in one way or another. 

I recently read that global mortality rates from breast cancer has increased by a whopping 44% since 1950. Forty four percent. And this is mostly in westernised cultures. You'd think people would pick up on rates as high as this & think "hey, maybe we should be a bit kinder to our bodies". Pesticides, preservatives, tobacco, petroleum & lead are all huge factors in causing cancer. Yet they're all huge factors in our everyday lives. Obviously some are unavoidable, petroleum for example can't always be avoided but pesticides & preservatives in our food & drinks are easily avoidable. Going organic or "green" is currently trending worldwide, and thank F for that. Something healthy and positive! The less crap we put into our body the lower those statistics will be after all..

I'm not making out like I'm some "green queen" who never touches anything processed or refined, because I certainly do, but I have been making some conscious decisions to make our home environment a greener one. Gone are the bleaches & pungent washing powders, and hello Eco friendly products! It isn't cheap, I'll tell you that much- but if its healthier for my family than we're all for it! 

It really isn't about being a "do-gooder" to make the world a better place for me, it's totally because I am shit scared of getting cancer. Literally petrified. Infact, I recently decided that I am definitely, 100% going to get it one day and I found myself bawling my eyes out in my room. I obviously don't actually know if I will get it or not, but the chances are certainly not as slim as they once were. So I'm going to do what I can to avoid the treacherous & relentless big C. I hope everyone else can change a little bit too, you never know how big of an outcome small changes can make.

In the meantime, follow this 'Angelina effect' and PLEASE get regular check ups- girls & guys, don't be shy. I know we're only young but cancer is a bitch these days and isn't only praying on the old & weak. It's so much better to be safe than sorry. 

This ones for you Sandy,

Love Gemma xx

22 Weeks

What's been happening:  BB is now 500gms & is proportioned like a newborn. Although he is growing everyday, his skin is still very wrinkled- this will iron out as he plumps up some more in the coming weeks. His eyes are now formed although the iris lacks pigment. As for me, I've still been really lethargic. I just can't seem to up my energy at the moment. 

Weight Gained;  I think because last time I was pregnant in winter & therefore I was mostly covered up, it made it a lot easier to embrace the weight gain. But being here in 30 degree heat everyday means a lot less clothing and a lot more exposure. I probably haven't actually gained as much as I think I have, it's just that my current attire (mostly togs) doesn't let any roll or wrinkle hide out too easily.

Workouts: I got to the gym 3 times last week & did some decent workouts, mostly incline walking & lots of squats. I also did a body balance class which incorporates yoga, pilates & tai chi which was amazing! So I'll be back for that on Friday... We can't go to the gym this week during the day though incase Blakes virus is still lingering so I've been mixing up a few at home workouts that I'll share a bit later... 

Movement: He is the karate kid. 

Food Aversions: Not really, but I have managed to cut down the abundance of bread in which I was devouring far too often. I made up a big batch of quinoa on Sunday so I've been making different salads with that for lunch all week which has been a welcome change. I really don't do salads so I've been pleasantly surprised, I'll share a few recipes with you a bit later. 

Food cravings: Anything cold or creamy at the mo.. 

Sleep: I've been hitting the hay at 8:30 every night lately & getting 8 hrs +. Blakes shown some mercy & now that she's all better we've been getting full nights again. I wish I could say its been making a difference but it really hasn't?! Seems that no matter how much rest I get or how much exercise I do or don't do, I still feel as though I could be in bed all day... I dunno what's going on but I'm hoping some energy comes back in full force ASAP! 

Miss anything: Not really this week, mostly just wish I could have more of a spring in my step! Although I think I'll soon come to the realisation that I'll likely be low on energy for at least another couple of years, ah well!

Fun/ interesting things for the week: Our weekend getaway was by far the biggest highlight of the week, it's all explained in my previous post.

Stretchmarks; Not yet, touch wood

Happy or moody: Happily exhausted this week 

Looking forward to: Bali!!!!! We're in the single digits countdown!

Bump update: This mornings snaps- bikini attire once again as its only 8am & nearly 25 degrees already! I'm actually about the size I was at 28 weeks last time which is a tad daunting.. 

Until next week,

Gemma 

A Slice of Paradise

Hi folks! 

Sorry I've been slack the last week or so, it has been a full on few days. Following up from my last post; turns out Blake wasn't teething at all (shows how intuitive I am!), she had actually contracted a virus called "hand foot & mouth" from the crèche at the gym. We ended up going to the docs fri as her rash which was initially just on her bum, had spread to pretty much everywhere & broken out into blisters.

Yikes. It wasn't pretty. 

So the poor thing had been gobbling down teething tablets like lollies and getting bonjella smeared all over her gums a few times a day for nothing! Luckily the virus isn't serious & only causes minor flu like symptoms aswel as the horrible blisters, it goes away by itself within a week and I'm stoked to report she is very nearly rash free already! Apparently it's very common in pre schoolers, I had personally never heard of it but I'm grateful she didn't need any medication to get rid of it, and now her immune system is just that little bit stronger- win win!

After the all clear from the docs last Fri we embarked on our weekend getaway to Margaret River with high spirits. As Blakes rash progressively got worse during the week, we had been fretting that we would have to post pone the getaway.. 

Thank goodness we made it because, wow, that place was amazing. I still can't believe paradise is literally right on our doorstep like that! 

We stayed with our friends Lee & Tali who were brilliant hosts- Tali even had a white magnum waiting for me upon arrival, how did she know?

Their house was a sanctuary surrounded in lush bush land and beautiful tweeting birds- it felt like a full blown retreat.

So there was a lot of this;

There was also some tinkering around markets on Saturday which resulted in a few purchases, one being two hand poured soy candles that have been making my bedroom smell like a coconut & lime haven, and there was also a life changing almond croissant devoured- so so good. 

The beaches were postcard perfect, white sand & crystal clear water..

And to top off this pristine setting- a humpback whale showed up a couple of hundred metres off shore & started showing off for a good 20 minutes, doing some sweet jumps and sun baking its white fleshy belly- magic!

Before we knew it our time was up & we had to head back to reality. We left feeling refreshed, relaxed, slightly sunburnt & very bloated. All signs of a bloody good weekend!

So now we're back into the swing of things, but not for long.... Bali is only 10 short sleeps away!! That really snuck up on us. I'm off to purchase (another) new bikini top today as my boobies have once again exceeded all expectations & moved on up to an F cup. My poor back is about to snap in half! 

So that's an up to date account on what I've been up to! I'll be posting my 22 week update shortly too,

Hope everyone is having a wonderful week thus far..

Ciao for now 

Gemma 

The longest night of my life

Yesterday started out so well... We got a semi decent sleep (I'll take what I can get), followed up with a mini morning nap from Blake, and then a delightful play date with my two lovely friends and their offspring ;

Blake has been teething again and life has been a bit of a roller coaster for the past few days... 

That face sums it up nicely. 

She didn't sleep til around midnight last night, and then continued to wake up every hour screaming in pain. It was horrific. I tried putting her in our bed, bonjella, pamol and extra milk, but nothing helped. 

So today I feel like banging my head against a brick wall, but I really don't have the energy for that so I'll just continue to starfish on the floor whilst the clingy child uses my body as a prop to crawl over. 

Being pregnant and having a baby is bloody hard sometimes, and it sometimes makes me question if we have done the right thing.

I'm only human.

However, I do know that the good days outweigh the bad by far, and I also know that when I see this new addition and hold him in my arms, I won't even remember ever doubting that he was meant to be here.

Until he starts teething..... (Haha only kidding, a little)

Meanwhile, I've just stocked up for the night ahead;

And thus far, we've never had two nights as bad as last night in a row (touch wood). So here's hoping Blake feels better ASAP so we can all feel human again...

Here's a selfie shot from today as proof of the horror that unfolded last night;

That's about as humorous as I get today.

Ciao! 

Gemma  

21 Weeks

What's been happening: He is still bulking like crazy this week, now weighing in at approx 430gms and measuring 28cm in length. His eyebrows and eyelids are now fully developed & his fingernails now cover his little fingers (cute!). He can also now hear our conversations. As for me, in complete contrast to last week- I've been average as hell. I have now got chronic heartburn and the heat seems to be sucking the energy right out of me. 

Weight gained:  Ugh. I shudder at the thought. After a weekend of infinite salt & vinegar chips, cupcakes and cans of coke, I feel less than ideal. Lets just say I'm suddenly feeling a tad anxious about all this bikini-cladding in bali. My thighs are out of control! 

Workouts: I had a couple of half assed gym sessions & I gave pregnancy pilates a jam last week. I didn't really dig it- would prefer yoga any day, but I'm glad I gave it a go to see what it was all about. I missed spin on Sunday as we went to the markets & ate cupcakes instead, fair trade right?

Movement: So much!! It's really bizarre actually, they're so strong and definitive already- and I've felt his little hiccups many times over the past few days which has definitely been the highlight of my week.

Food Aversions: Nope, but I wish I did! An aversion to kit kats, cheese, and chips would be warmly welcomed! 

Food cravings: Funnily enough- I don't actually think real cravings exist throughout pregnancy. For me anyway, it's just mentally loosening up & thinking why not? I'm pregnant, I'm not getting smaller anyway. But clearly all the processed crap really can alter your moods, & that can't be a good thing. I'm still making sure I get in all the nutrients the baby needs each day, but on top of that there are far too many "treats". Hardly a treat when it's everyday though is it? 

Sleep: Sleep has been the bane of my life this week. They say a pregnant woman's body is always a few degrees warmer than usual, so that + the 30 degrees it already is in the room makes for a rough slumber. I think I need to invest in one of those pregnancy pillows too, I never used one last time but I feel like I cannot get comfortable in any position anymore- so frustrating. On top of that- Blake has cut two teeth in the past week, so whatever sleep I had been getting was broken. Hence the attitude. Lack of sleep + abundance of preservatives = severe grumpiness and lack of confidence / motivation. Pretty much a recipe for disaster. 

Miss anything: My mood from last week! The mind is so incredibly powerful, and when you get stuck in a rut like I have the past few days its really hard to mentally crawl out of. I think after a decent sleep and some time with my friends today, I'll be a much happier chap. 

Fun/ interesting things for the week:  Not a hell of a lot this week sorry folks!

Stretchmarks; Nope! 

Happy or moody: As above. 

Looking forward to: Getting a decent sleep & our roady to Margaret river this weekend. 

Bump update: Here's a couple of snaps from this morn, they're great angles so they don't actually reflect my extra lard accurately. Anything for a confidence boost though eh? 

 

I just re - read all of my answers & laughed out loud. Haha...what a sad sack. I do apologise- its really not all that bad. But, they were all honest so that's all I've got to give this week sorry! I'm going to stop feeling sorry for myself as of today though so hopefully next weeks round up is a lot chirpier,

Gemma 

No News is Good News

Heya, how has everyone's weekend been? We've had some more amazing weather over here so it's been rather similar to last weekend, beach & general slothness. 

For the past few months, Oli and I have completely stopped watching the nightly news. 6pm in our household was always news hr, even if it were just on in the background whilst we were cooking or whatever- it became a routine. I guess this stemmed from our childhoods as our parents (and most Nz families would be the same I would imagine) always switched on the news at 6pm. It just felt like the responsible, adult thing to do- to catch up the on the current affairs. 

But over the past few months I've become increasingly aware of the extreme violence that seems to have completely taken over every news piece; man is brutally murdered in side St. in Sydney, animals found tortured in Melbourne garage, five yr old american boy shoots baby sister, child abducted in Perth... And those don't even scratch the surface. 

Disturbing and malicious behaviour seems to be the theme of the year (or decade) and I am utterly sick of seeing it. Yes, these events are terrible for the people/ animals involved, yes there are far too many sick people in this world, yes disease is spreading like wildfire, yes the world is a dangerous place. Do I want to have it shoved down my throat, or seeded into my brain every day until I'm too afraid to leave the house?

No. 

(While we're at it, if I had to see one more piece on some idiot American going on another shooting rampage I would rather peel off my own toenails. Slowly.)

I totally believe in being aware of and prepared for danger, I however do not believe in being poisoned by the media into being petrified of daily life & happenings. Life IS scary- if you want to look at it that way. But what's the point in that? Being afraid isn't going to help anyone, it's only going to taint the times which should only be considered good. 

Whatever happened to feel good news stories where we saw people helping other people in need? Or dogs rescuing their owners in a dramatic house fire? I'm sure there are still more good people out there than bad, we just don't see it enough anymore. The media seems to thrive on these brutal attacks, jumping from one murder to the next like they're nothing special. I think it's disgusting, and that's why we said no to the news. Personally, watching it would always put a damper on my night, I would dwell on particularly bad stories for days- always thinking what if that were Oli, or worse, what if that was Blake? It would literally give me nightmares far too often. 

So fuck that.

In this case, ignorance is bliss. 

And incase all you Aussies are unaware, they play new Simpsons episodes on ten at 6, I have been missing out! 

Im sure we will watch the nightly news again here or there, but in the meantime I just check out stuff.co.nz and am more than happy to pick & choose which current events to catch up on rather than watching a reel of blood and devastation night after night. 

Bless you Internet. 

What are your thoughts on the news? 

Thought of the day "we need a dog incase of emergency" 

Gemma